FIFA’s former vice-president, Jack Warner, who resigned under a storm of corruption allegations in 2011, has used an article from legendary satirist publication The Onion, to defend himself, following his arrest.
Warner took to Facebook to defend himself via a seven-minute video, with Warner holding up a printed copy of satirical article from The Onion bearing the headline: “FIFA Frantically Announces 2015 Summer World Cup In United States” and which further read: “Global Soccer Tournament To Kick Off In America Later This Afternoon“.
In the video, Warner defends himself and FIFA, using the article as proof.
“… And then I looked to see that FIFA has frantically announced 2015, this year — Olympic final … in the World Cup, begin May 27th.
“If FIFA is so bad, why is it the USA wants to keep the FIFA World Cup? Why is it they began games on May 27th? May 27th, two days before FIFA elections. Why is it the US authorities sought to embarrass FIFA in Zurich? Something has to be wrong.”
Indeed.
The video remains live on Warner’s personal TV site, warnertv.net, and has been uploaded across sharing sites including Youtube, below.
Jack Warner has had many accusations levelled at him without a charge being laid, until the recent raids and arrests on seven FIFA officials by Swiss and US authorities which has resulted in international condemnation of the world’s governing football body. Warner and several other FIFA officials were arrested before the annual FIFA Congress in Zurich, with charges of “wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering”.
On 29 May 2011, Warner was provisionally suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee from all involvement in football, pending the outcome of the investigation of corruption allegations.
In June that year, FIFA announced Warner’s resignation from all positions in international football – while still maintaining he had a right a presumption of innocence.
In April 2013, The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (“CONCACAF”) published its Integrity Committee report and concluded that Warner committed fraud against CONCACAF and FIFA.
Warner, a member of Parliament in Trinidad, faces extradition to the United States for criminal prosecution.
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